Country Commitments

The EU Commission proposed a climate neutral sector of agriculture, forestry and land use by 2035, in July 2021. As regards the Fit for 55 package, the negotiations are ongoing, probably to be finished soon during the Czech Presidency.

Food 2: The EU wants to support sustainable food consumption with a review of the EU School Scheme, a review of food promotion subsidies and the development of a sustainable food label. In 2023 Q3, the Framework for Sustainable Food Systems will be published.

Food 3: The EU Finance ministers and the EU Commission allowed EU member states to apply a 0% VAT tariff on vegetables and fruits in December 2021. Countries like the Netherlands, Germany and Poland reacted with proposals to do so, in 2022.

Food 6: In Oktober 2021 the EU Parliament majority supported an amendment 27 to the EU Commision Farm to Fork Strategy about changing “Food Environment and Food Prices” with a VAT tax reform, saying: “Underlines that food prices must send the right signal to consumers; considers that true food prices, reflecting the true cost of production for farmers and also for the environment and society, are the most efficient way to achieve sustainable and equitable food systems in the long term”. Amendment 27 says the EU parliament “supports giving Member States more flexibility to differentiate in the VAT rates on food with different health and environmental impacts, and enable them to choose a zero VAT tax for healthy and sustainable food products such as fruits and vegetables, as is already implemented in some Member States but not possible for all at this moment1a, and a higher VAT rate on unhealthy food and food that has a high environmental footprint”.(We all know meat products are food products with the highest environmental footprint per kg).

Farm 2: the EU Commission provides agriculture subsidies, also for reducing GHG-emissions. The goal for EU agriculture is an EU-level greenhouse gas emissions reduction target of 40% compared to 2005, for the sectors not covered by the ETS, incl. agriculture (fit for 55 package).

Farm 4: ban the import and export of 6 agriculture commodities that are linked to deforestation.

Farm 5. In the Farm to Food Strategy (EU Green Deal for food & farming), announced tax incentives that could reduce consumption of food with high environmental footprints. The EU Commission wrote: “Tax incentives should also drive the transition to a sustainable food system and encourage consumers to choose sustainable and healthy diets. The Commission’s proposal on VAT rates (currently being discussed in the Council) could allow Member States to make more targeted use of rates, for instance to support organic fruit and vegetables. EU tax systems should also aim to ensure that the price of different foods reflects their real costs in terms of use of finite natural resources, pollution, GHG emissions and other environmental externalities”.

The Commission will carry out a study, to be published end 2023, to assess the polluter pays principle in relation to agriculture greenhouse gas emissions.

Germany Food 5
A law (Gesetz Gegen Wettbewerbsbeschränkungen) prohibits businesses “with superior market power in relation to small and 2 medium-sized competitors” from pricing below cost”. Read article here

Germany Food 6
German Coalition Agreement 2021: Investment plan to improve animal welfare, involving all links in the chain in its financing, incl. consumers. End junk prices for meat/food, include external costs: German agriculture minister says end of ‘junk prices for food’ will protect animals and climate, read more about Germany’s plans here.

Germany Farm 2
The new German government agreements mentioned incentives for (organic) dairy farms, restructuring agriculture subsidies to reduce GHG emissions and starting policies to reduce livestock numbers, linked to available land. Read more here: New German coalition plans mandatory animal welfare label restructuring of farm subsidies and German Government agrees farming subsidies distribution adds more eco-schemes and Agriculture Climate Change Mitigation.

Germany Farm 3
Germany signed the Global Methane Pledge for 30% emission reduction by 2030. This will lead to new legislation, closer monitoring, and enforcement of maximum methane emissions from farms. In the Government agreement of 2021, the aim of reducing methane emissions from farms was explicitly mentioned.

Netherlands Food 1

In March 2022, the Dutch government announced a reduction goal by 2030 for animal protein consumption of ca. 16%, which could reduce GHG-emissions from food with 10-15%5. This was formulated in shifting dietary patterns from 60% animal protein consumption and 40% plant-based protein consumption towards 50% animal protein consumption by 2030 and 50% plant-based protein consumption by 2030.

Netherlands Food 3
The Dutch government announced to apply a 0% VAT tariff on vegetables and fruits in its Coalition Agreement December 2021. Read more here: The Dutch 2025 Coalition Agreement

Netherlands Food 6
The agriculture minister financed pilot projects for catering and retail where consumers pay the true price of food including environmental costs. True Price – From Insight to Action and True Price Store in Amsterdam and catering at universities with differentiated, ‘true food’ prices

Netherlands Farm 2
The Netherlands wants to reduce livestock numbers by approximately 30% to reduce nitrogen and GHG-emissions, with 25 billion euro 2022-2030. Read more here: The Dutch Government announces 25 billion plan to radically reduce livestock numbers and Cattle Herds in the Netherlands to be cut by 30% over the next decade to meet Nitrogen Targets

Netherlands Farm 3
The Netherlands signed the Global Methane Pledge for 30% emission reduction in 2030. This will lead to legislation, monitoring, and enforcement of maximum methane emissions from farms. See The Global Methane Pledge. The Dutch government Coalition Agreement announced to reduce livestock numbers (25 billion euro available till 2030). The Climate agreement for agriculture has reduction goals and will also help to reduce methane emissions.

Netherlands Farm 4
The EU Commission will ban food products related to deforestation The EU announces ban on commodities, including a beef and coffee import ban due to forest endangerment

China Food 1
In 2016 China developed new dietary guidelines aiming to reduce meat consumption with 50% by 2030. See more at China’s meat consumption and climate change and Planting a Plant-Based Future in China.

China Food 2
The Chinese Government has established the first voluntary industry standard for plant-based meat alternatives, marking a significant step for the emerging plant-based protein sector in the Chinese market. Shirley Lu, managing director of ProVeg Asia, said: “First, it establishes the naming of plant-based “meat”.  Second, it specifically prohibits any use of animal-based oil and ingredients to ensure the integrity of the products.” Read more about the transition here: China Establishes Its First Voluntary Standard For Plant-Based Meat Products.

China’s Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs also has promoted the lab-grown meat industry with the release of its official five-year agricultural plan (pdf in Chinese) on Jan. 26. For the first time, China included cultivated meats and other “future foods” like plant-based eggs as part of its blueprint for food security going forward. Read more about China’s move towards plant-based ‘future foods’ here: China’s New 5-Year Plan is a Blueprint for the Future of Meat.

China Farm 1
China is subsidizing farmers to reduce fertilizer use, while using more organic compost and improving the soil to sequester carbon

China Farm 1
China is subsidizing organic farmers. These measures are unparalleled around the world. They range from covering the cost of organic certification, to finding land, funding on-farm infrastructure and organic fertilizers, to training and marketing assistance.

New Zealand Farm 5
New Zealand proposes to price agricultural GHG emissions from 2025 and pay farmers who reduce emissions,: New Zealand proposes to price agricultural emissions from 2025 , while the country also passed legislation, which finalised the ETS reform.

New Zealand Farm 3
New Zealand signed the Global Methane Pledge for 30% emission reduction in 2030. This will lead to legislation, monitoring, and enforcement of maximum methane emissions from farms. See The Global Methane Pledge.

New Zealand Food 2
The New Zealand government started a school campaign for reducing meat and dairy consumption to reduce GHG-emissions: Read more about the Reuters article here.

New Zealand Food 3
New Zealand introduced programmes in schools which subsidise vegetables and fruits for lower income groups. Read more about the Fruit in Schools Programme and the Governments efforts to secure New Zealander’s access to affordable and healthy food.

UK Food 1
The UK National Food Strategy mentioned a goal of 30% reduction of meat consumption by 2030. Read more about this objective here. 

UK Food 5
The UK will ban low prices and advertisements for unhealthy food products including different dairy and meat products (categories 3, 5, 9-11 and 13-17) from January 2023: New regulation against low prices and advertisements for unhealthy food products.

UK Farm 3
The UK signed the Global Methane Pledge for 30% emission reduction in 2030. This will lead to legislation, monitoring, and enforcement of maximum methane emissions from farms. The UK has also launched Britain’s Climate Change Act, containing the world’s first legally binding national commitment to cut GHG emissions, including agriculture which will be subject to an ETS regulatory framework. Read article here.

UK Farm 5
A Carbon border tax is likely to be introduced on meat and dairy in the UK after 2025. Read article here.

Sweden Food 1
Sweden announced to also include consumer based GHG-emissions reduction goals (including from imported products) into climate policies in addition to production based GHG-emissions. In this way plant-based low footprint diets (less meat) and other consumption changes will be encouraged. Sweden is about to become the first country in the world to report on carbon-based emissions and Sweden expands its climate goals

Sweden Food 2
More schools are cutting down on meat in school meals in an effort to help curb greenhouse gas emissions and boost students’ health. By law school lunches only have to be free and nutritious, but the National Swedish Food Agency published guidelines in April urging schools to serve up more vegetables, while cutting down on meat centered meals. Read more about the transition to plant-based meals in Swedish schools here: The schools where meat is off the menu for climate reasons.

Sweden Farm 1
Conversion subsidies are being offered to Swedish farmers who look to employ biodiversity-enhancing practices on their farms, as well as those willing to convert to organic. Read article here.

Sweden Farm 3
Sweden signed the Global Methane Pledge for 30% emission reduction in 2030. This will lead to legislation, monitoring, and enforcement of maximum methane emissions from farms.

Belgium Food 1
The Belgian Government has advised citizens to decrease their red meat consumption. The Belgian Superior Health Council, a scientific advisory body of the government, has recommended citizens to reduce their red-meat consumption, while increasing their fruit and vegetable intake. Read more about this advice here: Belgian government promotes reduced meat consumption

Belgium Food 2
As supported by the Belgian Government, Meat-Free Thursdays have become the norm in the city of Ghent, Belgium. Ghent promotes a meat-free day each week in order to achieve a range of objectives: meeting climate emissions goals; improving health; reducing overall environmental impacts; improved animal welfare; and sustainable consumption. After Ghent launched its meat-free day in 2009, it has been copied by cities worldwide, e.g. Hasselt (Belgium), Bremen (Germany), Helsinki, San Francisco, Cape Town, and Sao Paulo. Ghent aims to be climate neutral by 2050, all urban activities combined. Read more about this new initiative here: Ghent meat-free Thursdays

Belgium Farm 1
The Belgium government is offering financial incentives to 60 large livestock farmers to stop production by 2025. Read more about what the Government in offering here.  

Belgium Farm 3
Belgium signed the Global Methane Pledge for 30% emission reduction in 2030. This will lead to legislation, monitoring, and enforcement of maximum methane emissions from farms. In the Government agreement in 2021 reduction of methane emissions from farms was mentioned.

Denmark Food 1
Almost a third of Danes have cut down on their meat consumption levels, with the Government advocating for lower meat intake as a healthier option across Denmark. Read article here. Additionally, the Danish government announced in 2021 that it plans on spending 195 million dollars in order to boost plant-based production and encourage greater consumption of plant-based proteins. Read article here.

Denmark Food 2
The Danish government has begun discussing proposals that would require food manufacturers and supermarkets to put labels on products based on their environmental impact. It has been reported that the initiative is supported by the Danish Agriculture and Food Council, which recognizes that the move would potentially serve as an opportunity to promote best farming practices in order to reduce the nation’s carbon footprint. Read more about it here: Denmark’s Agriculture and Food Council Considers Labels Ranking Food’s Impact on the Climate.

Denmark Farm 3
Denmark signed the Global Methane Pledge for 30% emission reduction in 2030. This will lead to legislation, monitoring, and enforcement of maximum methane emissions from farms.

Denmark Farm 5
Denmark has proposed a CO2 tax by 2023 for all sectors, including agriculture. Read article here: Denmark raises CO2 taxes.

Italy Food 2
Roberto Cingolani, Italy’s Minister for the Ecological Transition, outlined an ambitious aim for Italy in becoming a leader of the sustainable transition. Moreover, the Minister stated that ‘the amount of animal protein consumed should be decreased and replaced with plant-based alternatives’’. His appointment to this role is hoped to sustain the transition. Read more about the Minister’s ambitious aim here.

Italy Food 3
Italy’s progressive VAT tariffs means that Italian’s enjoy a 4% rate on fruits and vegetables, as well as cereals and grains, while the standard VAT remains at 22% for other goods. While animal products do remain in a lower rate (7-8%), Italy’s recognition that different goods should apply different VAT tariffs makes it a good example for other Member States. Read more here: Taxation in Agriculture – Italy

Italy Farm 1
Italy’s promotion of young people in farming has resulted in Italy recording the highest number of farmers under the age of 35 within the EU. Investigation into this phenomenon shows that younger farmers put a greater focus on environmental protection, with a large portion of these farmers favouring organic production. In response, more funding has been provided by the Italian government to support those entering the agricultural sector, continuing traditions in a sustainable, environmentally conscious manner.  Read more here: Europe’s New Farmers

Italy Farm 3
By signing the Global Methane Pledge, Italy hopes to reduce its’ methane levels considerably, with the collective goal being to reduce global methane emissions by at least 30% from 2020 levels by 2030. Read more about the pledge here: Launch by US, EU, and Partners of the Global Methane Pledge